JP2004359375A - Moisture removing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for reliably and sanitarily removing moisture in food. <P>SOLUTION: In a food moisture removing device 1 to hold food 20 between a food feeding belt 11a and a food holding belt 11b and carry the food to a moisture removing means 12, the moisture removing means 12 is a suction means to suck moisture from a back side of a belt 11, and the belt 11 is formed of plastic of excellent flexibility in a net-shaped endless belt, and has a belt cleaning mechanism 13 comprising a cleaning water spray pipe 131 to spray cleaning water toward the belt 11, a cleaning water suction nozzle 132 to collect cleaning water from the belt, and a cleaning water collection hopper 133 provided therebelow on the return side of the belt 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water removing device for removing water from food in a food manufacturing process.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There are various purposes for removing water from foods. For example, in seafood processing, the freshness and commercial value (appearance) of the fish (water drop) due to the water (drip) from the fish body during fresh shipment of sea bream and yellowtail fillet (single body) This causes problems such as poor bonding of the vacuum packaging machine.
[0003]
At present, almost all processing sites manually perform the work of wiping this moisture. That is, the front and back of the fillet are wiped one by one with a cloth or paper towel. In addition, there is a processing plant that introduces a moisture removal device that appeared several years ago and automates the work of several people (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
The water removing device is configured to run at least one water-absorbing belt having water absorbency so that some surfaces thereof face each other, transport the food so as to sandwich the food between the facing water-absorbing belts, and include the food. The water absorbing belt is provided with a water absorbing means for absorbing the water present therein, and a dehydrating means for applying pressure to the water absorbing belt to dehydrate the absorbed water. This water removal device for food is a mechanized system of wiping off water with the above-mentioned towel, wiping off water with a water absorption belt, spraying high-pressure cleaning water onto the water absorption belt with the water removed, and then cleaning. After disinfection, water is removed by a dehydrating means, and the water absorbing belt is used in circulation.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-323153
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Even today, most of the bream and yellowtail processing plants are manually wiped, but when using cloth towels, they are washed and used. It has the problem of sticking to the fillet as foreign matter. Also, since hundreds of fillets are processed every day, it is necessary to put a pile of towels right next to the worker, which wastes work space.
[0007]
On the other hand, when a paper towel is used, there is no problem of space or washing, but there is a problem that it costs several million yen per year to purchase paper towels and dispose of used paper (garbage).
[0008]
In addition, since one cloth towel and one paper towel are used for 2 to 4 fillets, there is a problem in hygiene.
[0009]
The current water removal device uses a water-absorbing material for the conveyor belt that feeds food, and uses a sponge roller as a guide roller.Even if it has a belt cleaning / disinfection mechanism, it is actually sufficiently cleaned. This may cause problems such as contamination by various bacteria.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in a food moisture removing device and to provide a food moisture removing device that can remove moisture from food in a hygienic and reliable manner.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A belt conveyor for conveying food is provided at the top and bottom, and the conveyor belt has good air permeability. In order to absorb food moisture, at least one or more vacuum nozzles are provided. Be composed.
[0012]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a water removal device, in which food is transported between net-like transport belts and subjected to dehydration treatment. In addition to this, the cleaning device is provided, so that the contamination of the transport belt can be effectively eliminated.
[0013]
In addition, when the material of the conveyor belt is a plastic such as polyester having excellent flexibility, it is possible to eliminate the restriction of the feeding direction due to the shape of food.
[0014]
Furthermore, by sliding the conveyor belt and the vacuum nozzle, a reduction in suction efficiency can be suppressed, and the vacuum nozzle is opened and closed in accordance with the thickness of the food, so that the food and the vacuum nozzle can be opened and closed. And the space between the food nozzles and the vacuum nozzles is thin, so that the vacuum efficiency is very good and there is no need to prepare a large-scale vacuum pump.
[0015]
Further, the cleaning mechanism is located on the return side of the conveyor belt, flushes dirt from the back side of the conveyor belt with high-pressure cleaning water, sucks water droplets between the meshes with a vacuum nozzle, and is collected by the hopper. . Further, after the work is completed, the sanitary work can be performed by removing the transport belt from the mechanical device and washing the belt.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
With reference to the drawings, an embodiment of a food moisture removing device according to the present invention will be described by taking a fish (fillet) moisture removing device as an example. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the outline of the configuration of a food moisture removing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view showing a state where food is placed. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the detailed structure of the water removing unit.
[0017]
The food moisture removing apparatus 1 according to the present invention includes a food feed belt (lower belt) 11a, a lower moisture removing unit 12a, lower belt washing water sprinkling tubes 131-1a, 131-2a, and a lower belt washing water suction nozzle. 132a, a lower belt cleaning section 13a including a lower belt cleaning water recovery hopper 133a, a food holding belt (upper belt) 11b, an upper moisture removing section 12b, and upper belt cleaning water sprinkling tubes 131-1b, 131-2b and upper An upper belt cleaning section 13b including a belt cleaning water suction nozzle 132b and a lower belt cleaning water recovery hopper 133b, and a suction pump, a belt cleaning pump, and a belt driving motor (not shown) are disposed on the frame 16. You.
[0018]
The food feed belt 11a is a belt on which the food 20 is placed and transported to the moisture removing means 12, and is formed in an endless belt shape. The food feed belt 11a is made of a resilient material having good water repellency, such as polyester, and is formed as, for example, a net-like band having good air permeability. The food feed belt 11a is driven and rotated by, for example, a drive roller 111a, and the tension is adjusted by a follower roller 111a and the like.
[0019]
The food holding belt 11b is a belt that holds the food 20 placed on the food feeding belt 11a and conveys the food 20 to the moisture removing unit 12, and is formed in an endless belt shape. The food holding belt 11b is made of a resilient material having good water repellency, such as polyester, similarly to the food feeding belt 11a, and is formed as a net-like band having good air permeability. The food pressing belt 11b is driven and rotated by, for example, a driving roller 111b, and the tension is adjusted by a following roller 112b and the like.
[0020]
The lower moisture removing section 12a is means for removing the moisture present on the back surface or inside of the food 20 by a suction pump, and is provided on the back surface on the feed side of the food feed belt 11a.
[0021]
The upper moisture removing unit 12b is a unit that removes moisture present on the surface or inside of the food 20 by a suction pump, and is provided on the feed-side back surface of the food holding belt 11b.
[0022]
The lower belt cleaning unit 13a is a unit that cleans the food feed belt 11a on the return side of the food feed belt 11a. In the lower belt cleaning section 13a, the lower belt cleaning water sprinkling pipes 131-1a and 131-2a apply the cleaning shower S from the front and back of the food feed belt 11a, and the upper and lower belt cleaning water suction nozzles 132b use the upper and lower surfaces of the belt 11a and the mesh. The washing water dropped downward is collected by a lower belt washing water collecting hopper 133a provided below the washing water sprinkling pipes 131-1a and 131-2a.
[0023]
The upper belt cleaning unit 13b is a unit that cleans the food pressing belt 11b on the return side of the food pressing belt 11b. In the upper belt cleaning unit 13b, the upper belt cleaning water sprinkling pipes 131-1b and 131-2b apply the cleaning shower S from the front and back of the food holding belt 11b, and the upper belt cleaning water suction nozzle 132b uses the upper and lower surfaces of the belt 11b and the mesh. The water adhering to the washing water is removed, and the washing water dropped downward is collected by a lower belt washing water collecting hopper 133a provided below the washing water sprinkling pipes 131-1b, 131-2b, and collected and discarded at one place.
[0024]
The belt cleaning pump chamber 14 includes a belt cleaning pump (not shown) for supplying high-pressure cleaning water to the cleaning water sprinkling tubes 131-1a, 131-2a, 131-1b, and 131-2b, and a suction device (not shown). This is the room that houses the pump. The suction pump is connected to the vacuum hose of the water removing unit and the washing water suction nozzle of the belt washing unit, and is a unit for sucking moisture from the food and the belt.
[0025]
The belt driving motor chamber 15 is a chamber for accommodating a belt driving motor (not shown) for rotating the driving roller 111a for driving the food feed belt 11a and the driving roller 111b for driving the food pressing belt 11b.
[0026]
A caster 17 is attached to the frame 16 to make the water removing device 1 movable.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 3, the food 20 placed on the food feed belt 11a is pressed from above by the food pressing belt 11b, passes between the water removing units 12a and 12b, and the washing water is sufficiently removed by suction. Is done. Thereafter, the food 20 from which the moisture has been removed is taken out onto a chute (not shown) provided on the opposite side of the belt. The returned food feed belt 11a and the food holding belt 11b are washed by the belt washing units 13a and 13b to remove washing water, and are returned to the food transport position in a state where they are washed and drained.
[0028]
In the present invention, since the material of the food feeding belt 11a and the food holding belt 11b is a plastic such as polyester having excellent flexibility, the food feeding belt 11a and the food holding belt 11b are not affected by the shape of the food or the like, and the moisture is kept between the upper and lower belts. The process moves to the removing unit 12. Further, since the upper and lower belts 11a and 11b are formed in a net shape, the food 20 carried by the moisture removing means 12 not only absorbs water on the surface of the food 20 by suction but also has a scale gap on the skin side of the food 20. On the moisture side and on the meat side, the moisture from the meat surface to several mm inside can be easily dehydrated.
[0029]
Details of the structure of the water removing means 12 will be described with reference to FIG. The moisture removing means 12 is supported by two shafts 162a and 162b fixed to a column 161 of the frame, rotating arms 121a and 121b rotatably attached to the shafts, and supporting arms 126a and 126b. Vacuum nozzles 122a and 122b having suction ports 123a (not shown because suction ports 123b are provided on the lower surface of vacuum nozzle 122b), vacuum hoses 124a and 124b, and vacuum nozzle rotation fulcrums 125a and 125b. Be composed.
[0030]
The rotating arms 121a and 121b are provided with spring receiving portions 121-1a and 121-1b, respectively, and the springs 129 urge the water removing portions 12a and 12b in a direction to close each other.
[0031]
The water removing units 12a and 12b can be moved up and down by rotating arms 121a and 121b, respectively. Further, the water removing units 12a and 12b are supported by the vacuum nozzle rotation fulcrums 125a and 125b so as to be rotatable left and right.
[0032]
The food 20 placed on the food feed belt 11a is pressed from above by the food pressing belt 11b and sent to the moisture removing means 12. The food 20 that has reached the moisture removing unit 12 pushes down the vacuum nozzle 122a of the moisture removing unit 12a and pushes up the vacuum nozzle 122b of the moisture removing unit 12b. Each of the vacuum nozzles 122a and 122b is connected to a suction pump (not shown) by vacuum hoses 124a and 124b, and sucks moisture attached to the food 20 from the suction ports 123a and 123b.
[0033]
In the food moisture removing apparatus 1 according to the present invention having such a configuration, the rotating arms 121a and 121b that support the vacuum nozzles 122a and 122b open and close using the shafts 162a and 162b as fulcrums. Therefore, depending on the size of the food 20 passing through the moisture removing means 12, the vacuum nozzles 122a and 122b open and close to follow the food, and the vacuum nozzles 122a and 122b rotate left and right by the vacuum nozzle rotation fulcrums 125a and 125b. Therefore, the vacuum nozzle can follow the shape of the food 20. Furthermore, the surface on which the suction ports 123a and 123b of the vacuum nozzles 122a and 122b are provided has a gentle surface, so that the food 20 is smoothly transported.
[0034]
Furthermore, since the food moisture removing device 1 according to the present invention uses a plastic belt having excellent flexibility as the food feeding belt 11a and the food holding belt 11b, the food 20 can be vertically moved without being affected by its shape or the like. To the moisture removing means 12 while being held between the belts. Since the upper and lower belts 11a and 11b are formed in a mesh shape in the moisture removing means 12, moisture on the surface of the food 20 can be efficiently removed by suction. Therefore, the water can be used for various purposes without oozing water again by the next operation (next step).
[0035]
Further, since the water removing device 1 for removing water from food processes a large number of foods, for example, hundreds of fillets every day, it is necessary to pay particular attention to the hygiene aspects of the food feed belt 11a and the food holding belt 11b. However, according to the present invention, the food feeding belt 11a and the food holding belt 11b after the food has been transported can be washed while performing the dehydration process.
[0036]
In the above description, the fish food (fillet) of the fresh fish has been described as an example of the food. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be used for removing water from shellfish, fish eggs, and seaweeds. In this case, it is necessary to adjust the size of the mesh of the belt according to the object.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the food moisture removing apparatus 1 according to the present invention can effectively remove moisture from food in various food manufacturing processes, improve quality in maintaining freshness of food, and reduce work space. Significant effects such as reduction and labor saving can be expected.
[0038]
The present invention uses a flexible plastic as a transport belt for transporting food, so that it is possible to eliminate the limitation of the input direction due to the shape of the food, and to apply an unreasonable external force to the food and cause a deterioration in quality. Is eliminated, and contamination of the conveyor belt can be effectively eliminated because the cleaning device is provided.
[0039]
Furthermore, by sliding the conveyor belt and the vacuum nozzle, a reduction in suction efficiency can be suppressed, and the vacuum nozzle is opened and closed in accordance with the thickness of the food, so that the food and the vacuum nozzle can be opened and closed. Are almost separated, and one thin mesh belt is provided between the food and the vacuum nozzle, so that the vacuum efficiency is very good and it is not necessary to prepare a large-scale vacuum pump.
[0040]
Further, the cleaning mechanism is located on the return side of the conveyor belt, flushes dirt from the back side of the conveyor belt with high-pressure cleaning water, sucks water droplets between the meshes with a vacuum nozzle, and is collected by the hopper. . Further, after the work is completed, the sanitary work can be performed by removing the transport belt from the mechanical device and washing the belt.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating the configuration of a food moisture removing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of the food moisture removing apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the food moisture removing device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of a moisture removing section of the food moisture removing apparatus of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Food moisture removal device 11a Food feed belt (upper belt)
111a Food feed belt driving roller 112a Food feed belt following roller 11b Food holding belt (lower belt)
111b Food holding belt drive roller 112b Food holding belt following roller 12 Moisture removing means 12a, 12b Moisture removing section 121 Rotating arm 121-1 Spring receiving section 122 Vacuum nozzle 123 Suction port 124 Vacuum hose 125 Vacuum nozzle rotating fulcrum 126 Support arm 13 Belt cleaning unit 131 Cleaning water sprinkling pipe 132 Cleaning water suction nozzle 133 Cleaning water recovery hopper 14 Belt cleaning pump room 15 Belt drive motor room 16 Frame 161 Frame support 162 Rotating shaft 17 Casters 20 Food

Claims (5)

In a food moisture removing device that transports food to moisture removing means by sandwiching food between a food feed belt and a food holding belt,
The moisture removing unit is configured as a suction unit that sucks moisture from the back surface of the belt,
The device for removing moisture from food, wherein the belt is formed as a net-like endless belt. The water removing device according to claim 1, wherein the belt is formed of a plastic having excellent flexibility. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction unit is disposed in contact with the belt. The water removing device according to claim 3, wherein the suction unit is configured to move up and down according to the height of the food. On the return side of the belt, a belt washing mechanism including a washing water sprinkler pipe for spraying washing water toward the belt, a washing water suction nozzle for collecting washing water from the belt, and a washing water collection hopper provided below these The water removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

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